MAX OUT! “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect." –Psalm 18:32 If you’ve ever lifted weights at some time in your life with the intent to “bulk up”, you’ll certainly be able to relate to what I’m going to share with you. If you’ve ever spent hours at the library or on your computer doing research for school with the intent to get the most information you can on a given subject to write a thorough and complete paper to get an A, you’ll certainly be able to relate to what I’m going to share with you. If you’ve ever studied Scripture with the intent to increase in your knowledge of God, you’ll certainly be able to relate to what I’m going to share with you. When athletes load up the bar with tons of weight, there is a very basic concept. They generally want to lift the maximum weight they can lift. They want to Max Out! I can recall spending hours in the gym lifting and enjoying seeing the results. I enjoyed out lifting my friends. But let’s consider the basic concept behind lifting again. As most trainers and coaches will agree, the stronger the athlete’s muscles grow, the stronger the athlete. If they are stronger, they are more likely to have an advantage on the playing field. Athletes of all ages push their bodies to go the distance. We always want to run farther, run harder, and compete at a higher level than we did last time. We want to be the strongest on the field and know that we have a better chance of winning than our opponent. I ran 7 miles this morning. Not only did I run farther than I have since I started running earlier this year, but I also did it at an average per mile pace that was faster than the last time I ran a 10K. To get the results takes commitment. Some people, however, want to take the easy way out and get the results without putting forth the effort. They go to great lengths, cheating to get “maxed out.” The Max Out concept is a simple concept: when we work, we grow—period. God’s Max Out gives wisdom and strength to those who call on Him and seek His will. How is your training in the Word going these days? Athletes have both good and bad training days. They also have good and bad game days. We as believers are no different when it comes to our quiet times, devotions or prayer life. It’s no different when it comes to witnessing. Sometimes we say the right things and are blessed to lead someone through the Scriptures and on to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Other times we miss the mark entirely and are afraid of sharing with someone for fear of rejection even though we know it’s not us they are rejecting, but Christ. So who do you trust to help you Max Out for your Savior? Isaiah said in chapter 40:29-31, “He (God) giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Do you ever get tired, thirsty or hungry when you work out? Of course you do. What about when you are working out for your Savior? Jeremiah said in chapter 31, “For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” In other words, God quenches your thirst, restores your strength and energy and feeds you spiritually speaking. What area of your spiritual training could you improve on today? Ask God to give you the strength you need to do His work. We know that away from Him, we can do nothing … we will not Max Out! But, as Philippians 4:13 says, we can do all things through Christ, which strengthens us. Let’s Max Out for Jesus today! Have an awesome weekend FoTW! – Paul F.
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 16:24:12 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015